These former Wisconsin Badgers and Wisconsinites make NFL rosters
· Yahoo Sports
There were no Wisconsin Badgers from the 2026 class who made an initial NFL 53-man roster. But there were still a ton of ex-Badgers from previous teams who made the cut Aug. 30 with an NFL team.
That includes four rookies who were Badgers at some point in their career.
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Here's a look at the players who are on initial 53-man rosters (as well as those with injury designations) who played at the University of Wisconsin:
Braelon Allen, running back, New York Jets
The Fond du Lac High School alumnus only appeared in four games last year after the injury bug bit him, but he had 92 carries as a rookie in 2024.
Zack Baun, linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
The Super Bowl champion and first-team All-Pro pick two seasons ago had another Pro Bowl season last year, with 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and 123 total tackles.
Skyler Bell, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
Bell spent three years in the UW program, then transferred to UConn and became a record-setting receiver, selected in the fourth round of the 2026 draft.
Keeanu Benton, defensive tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Janesville native started all 17 games last year for the Steelers (5.5 sacks) and has 40 starts and 51 games in his three-year NFL career.
Tyler Biadasz, offensive line, Los Angeles Chargers
He was placed on season-ending injured reserve after tearing his ACL. He signed a three-year contract worth $30 million in the offseason after Washington cut ties. The Amherst native has been durable in his career, starting at least 15 games each of the past five seasons at center with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders.
Tanor Bortolini, offensive line, Indianapolis Colts
The center has drawn rave reviews for his play over the past two seasons, and he started 16 games for Indy in his second NFL season last year. He's from Kewaunee.
Leo Chenal, linebacker, Washington Commanders
After four seasons and two rings with Kansas City, Chenal has landed in a new place on a three-year deal worth $24.75 million. The Grantsburg native primarily made his name on special teams with the Chiefs but has 44 starts and seven career sacks.
Michael Deiter, offensive line, Denver Broncos
He suffered a season-ending quad injury earlier in August and placed on injured reserve. He appeared in only two games in 2025 but has spent seven seasons in the league.
Chimere Dike, wide receiver, Tennessee Titans
The Waukesha North alumnus earned first-team All-Pro recognition as a special-teamer last year in his rookie season, and he also caught 48 passes and four touchdowns. He spent most of his career with the Badgers before transferring to Florida for the final season. The Titans drafted him in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.
David Edwards, offensive line, New Orleans Saints
After four years with the Los Angeles Rams and three with Buffalo, the guard moves on to his third team in eight NFL seasons. He played in all 17 games last year and has started 16 games each of the past two seasons.
T.J. Edwards, linebacker, Chicago Bears
The former undrafted free agent will enter his fourth year with Chicago, where he was limited to 10 games after three consecutive years of playing in all 17 games. It'll be an eighth NFL season for the 30-year-old.
Jake Ferguson, tight end, Dallas Cowboys
The Madison Memorial graduate and former Badgers standout made his second Pro Bowl in 2025, catching 82 passes for 600 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns. He is Barry Alvarez's grandson, in case you didn't know.
Isaac Guerendo, running back, San Francisco 49ers
The speedy back played at Wisconsin for four years, transferred to Louisville and became a fourth-round pick in 2024. He's opening the season on the reserve/PUP list after suffering a torn pectoral in May.
Matt Henningsen, defensive end, Denver Broncos
In a brutal twist, the Menomonee Falls native suffered a torn Achilles for a second straight preseason, this time in his opposite leg, and will miss a second straight year. He played in 34 games for the Broncos in 2022 and 2023.
Nick Herbig, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
He had a breakout season last year in his third NFL campaign, logging 7.5 sacks, an interception and six starts in 15 games.
Joe Huber, offensive line, Minnesota Vikings
The undrafted guard made the Vikings last year and appeared in 12 NFL games.
Alec Ingold, fullback, Los Angeles Chargers
The Bay Port alumnus and 2023 Pro Bowler will join a new team after three seasons in Las Vegas and four in Miami.
Graham Mertz, quarterback, Houston Texans
The former Badgers top recruit is on injured reserve after tearing his ACL.
Riley Nowakowski, fullback, Pittsburgh Steelers
He finished his career with national-champion Indiana and was a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft. The Marquette University High School alumnus spent five years in the UW program.
Jonathan Taylor, running back, Indianapolis Colts
The former Badgers star running back signed a new two-year deal this offseason worth $44 million after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons. He's been a Pro Bowler three his six years and, last year, he had a league-leading 18 touchdowns and 323 attempts.
James Thompson Jr., defensive lineman, San Francisco 49ers
After four seasons with Wisconsin, he transferred to Illinois and made the 49ers as an undrafted free agent this season.
Joe Tippmann, offensive line, New York Jets
The second-round pick in 2023 has become indispensable for the Jets, playing in 50 games over the past three years and starting 48 of them.
Jordan Turner, linebacker, Denver Broncos
He went undrafted but appeared in seven games last year for Denver. The Michigan native spent three seasons with the Badgers before transferring to Michigan State.
Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker, Minnesota Vikings
After making the Pro Bowl in 2024, he was limited to 12 games last year but still had seven sacks. He's up to 35.5 sacks in his seven NFL seasons.
Cole Van Lanen, offensive line, Jacksonville Jaguars
The former Bay Port High School and Wisconsin Badgers alumnus spent his 2021 rookie season in Green Bay before getting traded to the Jags. Last year, he played in all 16 games (10 starts) and heads into his sixth NFL campaign.
T.J. Watt, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
The former Badgers star and Pewaukee native has eight Pro Bowl selections in nine NFL seasons, not to mention a defensive player of the year award and four first-team All-Pro nods. The future Hall of Famer played in 14 games last year for Pittsburgh.
CJ Williams, wide receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
After two seasons with the Badgers, he finished his career at Stanford and was taken in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hunter Wohler, safety, Indianapolis Colts
After an injury short-circuited the Muskego native's rookie season, and he had an impressive preseason to make the roster this time around.
Other Wisconsin connections on 53-man rosters
- Nick Bellore, linebacker, Washington Commanders. He's already announced his retirement but remains on the reserve/retired list with Washington. The 15-year NFL veteran from Whitefish Bay made two Pro Bowls in his career, often working as a special-teams ace.
- Ben Bredeson, offensive line, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The guard out of Arrowhead High School and Michigan has six NFL seasons under his belt, and he's started every game he's played over the last three years. This will be his third season with the Bucs after appearing in 11 contests last year.
- Max Bredeson, fullback, Minnesota Vikings. The Arrowhead High School alumnus attended Michigan and was taken in the fifth round of the 2026 draft. He is, as you might imagine, Ben's younger brother.
- Mike Caliendo, offensive line, Kansas City Chiefs. The Brookfield East alumnus appeared in all 17 games each of the past two seasons. The undrafted lineman out of Western Michigan heads into his fourth NFL season.
- Jon Gaines II, offensive lineman, Arizona Cardinals. The offensive lineman from Marquette University High School and UCLA enters his fourth year in the NFL. After injury slowed the start of his career, he has played in 30 games over the past two seasons, including five starts last year.
- Skyler Gill-Howard, defensive tackle, Detroit Lions. The Greenfield High School alumnus was drafted in the sixth round out of Texas Tech.
- Luke Goedeke, offensive line, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Valders High School alumnus out of Central Michigan heads into his fifth season. Like his teammate Ben Bredeson, he's started every game he's played over the last three years, playing at right tackle, including 11 games last year.
- Shelby Harris, defensive line, New York Giants. The Homestead High School graduate enters his 12th NFL season in a new home after three seasons with the Browns. He just turned 35.
- George Kittle, tight end, San Francisco 49ers. One of the top players at his position for several years, Kittle was born in Madison.
- Tanner Koziol, tight end, Jacksonville Jaguars. He never played for Wisconsin but did commit to transfer there before switching gears and heading for Houston instead. The Jaguars made him a fifth-round draft choice in 2026.
- JC Latham, offensive line, Tennessee Titans. The Milwaukee-area native began his high school career at Catholic Memorial before the Titans made him the seventh overall pick in 2024 out of Alabama. He has started 30 games over two seasons at tackle.
- Hunter Luepke, fullback, Dallas Cowboys. The North Dakota State alumnus hails from Spencer and has started nine games and appeared in 50 overall in three seasons.
- Quinn Meinerz, offensive line, Denver Broncos. Having become one of the better offensive linemen in football (and earning first-team All-Pro last year), the Hartford High School and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater alumnus enters his sixth NFL season.
- Marcus Mbow, offensive line, New York Giants. The graduate of Purdue University attended Wauwatosa East High School. He appeared in 13 games last year for the Giants, including three starts, after getting taken in the fifth round of the 2025 draft.
- Will McDonald, edge rusher, New York Jets. The Waukesha North High School alumnus has 21.5 sacks over three seasons after the Jets made him a first-round pick in 2023.
- Max Melton, cornerback, Arizona Cardinals. The third-year cornerback out of Rutgers is the brother of Packers receiver Bo Melton.
- Eric Murray, safety, Jacksonville Jaguars. The Milwaukee Riverside alumnus is 32 and entering his second season with the Jaguars and 11th NFL season overall. He started 12 games last year, with an interception and a forced fumble. Murray previously played five years with the Houston Texans.
- Billy Schrauth, offensive line, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From St. Mary's Springs in Fond du Lac, Schrauth played college football at Notre Dame and was taken in the fifth round of the 2026 draft.
- Peter Skoronski, offensive line, Tennessee Titans. The fourth-year offensive lineman, taken 11th overall in the 2023 draft, is the grandson of Packers Hall of Famer Bob Skoronski.
- Tress Way, punter, Washington Commanders. The 12-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowler is the brother-in-law of Brewers second baseman Brice Turang.
- Payton Wilson, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers. The brother of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Bryse Wilson had two sacks and an interception last year. He has appeared in all 34 games over the past two years.
Did we miss any? Email [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: These former Wisconsin Badgers and Wisconsinites make NFL rosters